Project Background
In 1988, following a decade of violent struggles over land opened up by the construction of roads and railways in Para State, the National Institute for Colonisation and Agrarian Reform (INCRA) set aside 300,000 hectares for smallholders. During the following year, a programme of support to small farmers was established by rural unions and the University of Para to provide research, training and development. This programme is known as CAT (Agro-environmental Centre of Tocantins and Araguaia); it involved a partnership between two institutions created at the same time:
- FATA: an agrarian foundation set up by the four major rural workers unions.
- LASAT: a socio-agricultural research institute for Tocantins-Araguaia established by the University of Para.
In 1992, FATA created a farmers' co-operative, COCAT, to help market farmers' products.
The DFID-funded Tocantins Forest Management and Rural Development Project started in 1991. The wider objectives of the project were to promote sustainable production on small farms and to discourage forest destruction in the Maraba area of Para State in Brazil. The initial DFID project contribution was $1.1 million over 3 years.
In November 1995 a mission was undertaken to review project progress and to assess project impact. The mission concluded that Phase 1 has been successful in strengthening community organisations, developing sound working methodologies and influencing attitudes to resource management. Environmental education activities and establishment of nurseries has been successful so far but impact on deforestation or smallholder incomes has been limited. The mission recommended that DFID consider funding a second phase.
Project Objectives
To develop sustainable and stable smallholder livelihood systems in the Maraba area to raise welfare and reduce pressure on forest resources through supporting appropriate institutional, technological and socio-economic initiatives.
Intended Outputs
Agricultural and agro-forestry advisory services effectively delivered to 45 colonist communities jointly by FATA and State institutions.
- Economically viable and sustainable farming practices developed, demonstrated and adopted through pilot interventions (accoes testes).
- Valuation and sustainable use of forest resource by colonist communities increased.
- Community organisations, unions and delegations strengthened through mobilisation for community infrastructure projects.
- FATA management improved.
- COCAT sub project:
- Production and marketing of forest and farm produce improved through COCAT.
- COCAT established as a financially viable institution.
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